[Gocamino] restricted camino in 2009

[blaroli at aol.com]

It should be remembered that albergues are absolutely and distinctly meant for pilgrims. This has been the case for nearly a millennium.
Anyone expressing the wish to make the pilgrimage, whether it be for religious, cultural, or personal reasons can get a credential.
Why anyone should think that the Camino is a "Cheap Holiday" is mind-boggling, and a perfect explanation of why the new requirements have come to be. .
 
Credentials are, and will be, easy en ought to obtain at any point where one commences the pilgrimage.



-----Original Message-----
From: Anthony and Barbara <jacobeo at sympatico.ca>
To: blaroli at aol.com
Sent: Wed, 20 Jun 2007 8:23 am
Subject: restricted camino in 2009



Yesterday I received this from South African Confraternity.  

 

 

It is official. Sr. Rodriguez Escobar, general director of Xacobeo (the organization that regulates albergues, etc) has announced the implementation of the rules that will require those using albergues to pay 3 Euros per night. The required fees will go into effect next January lst and will brooch no exceptions.
Apparently this decision is a reaction to the repeated, and increasing, complaints from many people that fake pilgrims co-opt albergue facilities to obtain free lodgings depriving legitimate pilgrims of their use.
The computerized interconnection of albergues will also be put into effect then, as well as the rule that the only pilgrim credentials to be recognized in albergues and for the purpose of obtaining the Compostela,will be the ones issued by the Archdiocese which, presumably, will be available anywhere.
Would-be pilgrims seeking a credential will be scrutinized somewhat more closely to ascertain their bona-fides.  Sr. Rodriguez Escobar allowed that those abusing the albergues are almost exclusively young Spain nationals ...... mostly students.


 

The parts that bother me are these:

 


The computerized interconnection of albergues will also be put into effect then, as well as the rule that  

 

the only pilgrim credentials to be recognized in albergues and for the purpose of obtaining the Compostela,will be the ones issued by the Archdiocese 

which, presumably, will be available anywhere.

 

What if you don't rate a credential and therefore can't stay in albergues?  We can hardly encourage people to travel to Spain - $1400 Cdn - only to find out that their cheap holiday has suddenly become one they can't afford because they have to pay $60 every night for a hotel.

 


Would-be pilgrims seeking a credential will be scrutinized somewhat more closely to ascertain their bona-fides.

Clearly the opening salvos of a campaign to restrict pilgrims as they see fit.

 

 

While I can understand their concern with false pilgrims and people undertaking the camino only to walk from Sarria so that they can get a Compostela I am still not pleased.  The Compostela is only a piece of paper - a photocopy.  What it becomes depends on what you did to get it and what it consequently means to you.  If the only intent was to prevent the cheapening of an old religious tradition then it would be simple to regulate - bring your baptismal recodes and if you aren't Catholic, you aren't a pilgrim.  Insulting but acceptable.  Being shoved out of the refuges because young Spanish students aren't behaving is inappropriate.

    

    My husband and I have spent hundreds of hours arranging meetings, running a web site and advising people about the camino.  He is off to his third stint as an hospitalero - this time at Miraz - in August/ September.  This time he is taking along a friend whom we dragged up the Rua de la Plata in 2002. This is of course all voluntary and out of our only-some-lousy-tourists pockets. 

    Our plan at the moment is to run the group in Canada  - proper name Canadian Company of Pilgrims - until next July 25 - at which time we will fold it and explain why on the web site that we will the take down.  We simply CANNOT be responsible for the Canadians and others that we send out into the wilderness with our faux credentials.

     We had always intended to give any money we had left,should the group fold to the Confraternity.  Under the present circumstances, I think that charity will begin a lot closer to home.

 

What I need from someone is the original source of this document, before we do something unnecessary.  Your assistance would be much appreciated.

 

Barbara Cappuccitti

 

PS I didn't understand all the blether about there being Other Londons.  While I don't much care for London Ontario - I didn't think it deserved the contumely of the remarks in the forum. 



________________________________________________________________________
AOL now offers free email to everyone.  Find out more about what's free from AOL at AOL.com.